Sallum

Sallum السلوم as-Sallūm
Village/harbour-side town
The east-facing centre and (to background) south of the town which is where the coast assumes its overall north direction as throughout the rest of Egypt, though having many headlands much further east. The desert hills are the Akabah el-Kebir.
Sallum Location in Egypt
Coordinates: 31°33′00″N 25°09′36″E / 31.55000°N 25.16000°E / 31.55000; 25.16000
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Matruh
Elevation (by harbour, downtown) to 200 metres (in associated scarp)	3 ft (1 m)
Population  (2006)
• Total	14,393
Time zone	UTC+2 (EST)

Sallum (Arabic: السلوم, romanized: as-Sallūm Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [essælˈluːm] ^ⓘ various transliterations include El Salloum, As Sallum or Sollum) is a harbourside village or town in Egypt. It is along the Egypt/Libyan short north–south aligned coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the far northwest corner of Egypt. It is, geodesically, 8 km (5 mi) east of the border with Libya, and 128 km (80 mi) from the notable port of Tobruk, Libya.

Sallum is mainly a Bedouin community of the families of merchants, fishermen and herdsmen. It has little tourist activity and few organized historical curiosities. It is a key trading center for the local Bedouin community. It has a World War II Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery and is 7.5 km (4.7 mi) north of Halfaya Pass.

Sallum is on its own pass, improved since World War II, has become the main pass ascending the related ridge, which obstructs east–west trade. The ridge extends away from its northern part, east-facing sea cliffs, south by 55 km (34 mi), there turning increasingly east. This escarpment is the ʿAqaba al-Kabīr, once called the ʿAqaba as-Sallūm, such as in the 12th century – a descriptor meaning graded (evened out) ascent, then making the name of the town. There are no other roadworthy passes nearby.

Sallum was a small ancient Roman port. Some Roman wells remain locally. Sometimes called Baranis, it should not be confused with the medieval-noted branch of the Berbers, the al-Baranis.

At its southern end scattered homes mark out the end of the northern coast of Egypt. Amenities include a post office and a National Bank of Egypt branch.